Arm Pulldown vs Bench Pull Up

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Arm Pulldown more often — 34,261 sessions vs 53. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Arm Pulldown and Bench Pull Up for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Arm Pulldown vs Bench Pull Up : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Arm Pulldown more often — 34,261 sessions compared to 53 for Bench Pull Up.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Arm Pulldown and Bench Pull Up differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Arm Pulldown and Bench Pull Up Differ

What differsArm PulldownBench Pull Up
Muscles workedback and tricepsback, traps, and biceps
Equipmenta machinea pull-up bar
Difficulty1 of 51 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users34,261 sessions53 sessions

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How to Arm Pulldown

Arm Pulldown gif

Arm Pulldown muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Squeeze your armpits and pull the bar towards your body.
  2. 2. Slowly raise it back up to shoulder level.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to bend your arms.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to raise your arms above shoulder level.
  3. 3. Please be careful not to elevate your trapezius muscles.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Arm Pulldown, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Arm Pulldown Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Arm Pulldown methods?Exercise Guide

How to Bench Pull Up

Bench Pull Up gif

Bench Pull Up muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Please pull your arms until your chest touches the bar.
  2. 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, gently pull your arms.
  3. 3. With your chest relaxed, slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lose your starting position when you come down.
  2. 2. Please rise using the strength of your shoulder blades, not your arms.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Bench Pull Up, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Bench Pull Up Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Bench Pull Up methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Back, Arm Pulldown or Bench Pull Up?

Planfit users log Arm Pulldown more often — 34,261 sessions against 53 for Bench Pull Up. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Arm Pulldown and Bench Pull Up work the same muscles?

Not quite. Arm Pulldown loads back and triceps, and Bench Pull Up loads back, traps, and biceps.

What equipment do Arm Pulldown and Bench Pull Up need?

Arm Pulldown needs a machine, and Bench Pull Up needs a pull-up bar.

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